Friday, May 10, 2024
Dear College Community,
I hope you are doing well as we wrap up the semester soon and get ready to celebrate WVC students’ achievements at commencement. Thank you for your service to the college and for your participation in the many listening sessions and discussions about understanding our organizational structure’s strengths and opportunities for reimagining.
Our process from January to March was to listen and learn about needs, experiences, and goals. Leadership engaged faculty and staff at department chair meetings, classified senate, academic senate, and student senate. In addition, executive leadership engaged college constituencies at College Council, Academic Affairs Administrators, and Library and Success Center meetings. We also met in open hours with employees whose sedulous interests and concerns shaped our direction. Additionally, we completed a comparative review of organizational structures in community college higher education, considering standards, best practices, and reporting structures.
Executive leadership in April 2024 shared proposed updates to the organizational structure based on input, and we took in further feedback. As an executive leadership team, we have tried to put creative solutions in place to provide support as we continually assess the needs of schools, departments, and programs. We are in a shared process of continual improvement.
The goals of the organizational assessment were to create an organizational structure that aligns programs with shared goals, establish sufficient support systems for departments and programs, revise portfolios and responsibilities so school/office/department leaders may successfully guide their areas, and understand gaps and needs in academic affairs, student services, and the college-at-large.
Phase One
Here are a few organizational updates for Phase One with an implementation timeline, Summer to Fall 2024.
Academic Affairs Organizational Updates
- No major changes to the School of Professional Studies, School of Art and Design, or School of Science and Math
- Move Study Abroad under the Dean of School of Language Arts and Social Sciences
- Move Older Adult Program into the School of Health and Human Development
- Move Dual Enrollment under the Director of Continuing Education
- Add Director of Library and Learning Support Services
- Keep faculty coordinator for Success Center with revised level of reassigned time
- Director reports to Provost
Student Services Organizational Updates
- Move Disability and Educational Support Program, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, and TRIO Program under the Dean of Academic Counseling and Student Success
- Move the Veterans Resource Center under the Dean of Academic Counseling and Student Success
- Move Student Life/Associated Students of WVC under the Director of Student Needs
- Move Middle College under the Director of Continuing Education
Phase Two
Phase Two of the organizational assessment, which will be implemented in January 2025, will start in Summer and Fall 2024. Areas we are looking to establish or expand are strategy, workforce, career, and external affairs.
BRAC
Vice President of Administrative Services, Anthony Djedi, will communicate BRAC-approved requests on May 17, 2024. Thank you for submitting your requests. Your participation in the process was essential to our college's better understanding of the needs.
This year, the executive leadership team will meet with individuals and areas whose requests were not approved to address any questions. More information will be shared about how to schedule a 20-minute slot when the BRAC campus announcement is made. Virtual appointments will be available as well.
Once again, I appreciate your participation and dedication to our college. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions.
In solidarity,
Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, Ph.D.